Cushion-wheel.



W. D. SIMPSON.

CUSHION WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 18, 1912.

Patent ed Mar. 18, 1913.

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WILLIAM SIMPSON, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

CUSHION-WHEEL.

i o ail UJ/[OWL it in ty concern Be it known that l, VILLIAM D. SIMPSON,

acitizen of the United States-residing at Columbia; in. the-county of Richland and titate ofSouth Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushion-wheels; of which the following isa ntlcation. r I this inyention relates to wheels of the a which provision is made for absorbshocks vibrations and increasing the i l on of the wheel by means ofa'tire which is c isti ucted to yield radially 'as the wheel rotates and is subjected to varying Ji heels with pneumatic tires are um; Mi (tins i now a most universally used for this purpose out such tires when punctured or slightly ruptured are rendered inoperative and furthermore are very expensive.

The object of my'invention is to provide wheels of this class, with novel means for absorbing shocks or vibrations and increasinp the traction, which are comparatively 'sive und'which are not rendered inwc hy ordinary wear, puncture or s. the tread,

' cording to this invention 1 make the huh and spokes ot the wheel of the usual construct in and I provide an inner rim at connected in any suitable way with and an outer rim which is movr with reference to the hub. The ave flanges which overlap each these prevent sidewise movement of the o "ter rim and the inner rim is free more with. reference to the outer rim, being confined in such movement by means of cross oars carried by the inner rim and projecting through openings or recesses in the flanges :utci? m een the inner and outer rim l arrange J metallic springs in a novel manner,

. connected to both the inner and on er rims, serve to iformally hold them concentric the proper distance apart, but which yield. when ohstructions are encoun- 'ianner similar to that of the air oeumatic tire.

ug my improvements. Fig. 2 shows verse section on the no 2 9 of Fig. In View to a limited extent circumferentially I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed I II-ay I8, 1912. I Serial No. 688,1l2,

Patented Mar. 18, 3 EM 3 showing the manner of connecting the circular springs with the inner and outer rims;

The hub A'and spokes B of the wheel areof usual, or maybe of.any approved, construction. On the outer endsof the spokes there is an inner rim C having outwardly projecting. side flanges cone o-f 'which is separately'itormed and applied lay-screwsof. The outer rim D has side flanges d disposed hot-ween the fiangesof theinner rim. Both rims may be made-ofmetal, and the outer rim is preferably provided with-a soft tread E of any suitable'materia1. The flanges (Z are formed with openings or recesses F through which extend cross bars G attached to the flangesof the .inner rim theconstru'ction beingsuch that the outer rim may move radially inward and outward and the inner rim may move to a limited-extent circumferentially relatively to the outer rim. The advantage of this construction is that the inner rim ispi'evented' from spinning; relatively to the outer rim as would he the case it means were not provided for prevent-- ing it v Between the inner and outer rims are arranged a continuous set of springs H. l have shown four sets of such s rings as this is preferred Each set may e considered a continuous spring, although it may be made up-of sections as indicated. Each cir' cular series ot spring sections is connected with both the inner and the outer rims. This may he done as shown in Fig. 1, by means of radially arranged springs Iwhich may be attached by securing devices 2' to the innor and outer'rims in the manner indicated. Each connection may he made by short lengths of springs, as shown, and where the springs I join springs H, rings 12, may be employed for making the connection, although other devices might be used for the same purpose. If desirable, springs K, shown in Fig. 2, may be employed for connecting the radial springs with the side flanges c. Normally the springs hold the inner and outer rims cpnoent-ric with the axis of the wheel and the springs are made strong enough to 'so ho ld the rims under OIdlIlfll" conditions, bdt when an obstruction is encount. ed the springs will yield and give the desired resiliency to the wheel until the obstruction is passed, when the normal position of the parts will he assumed.

1. A Wheel, comprising inner and outer rims movable relatively to each' other, means for limiting the movement of the inner rim circumferentially relatively to the outer rim, spiral springs arranged circumferentially and continuously around the inner rim and between it and the outer rim and out of contact with both rims, and radially arranged spiral springs connected with the circumferential springs and also connected with both the inner and outer rims and affording the sole means for connecting the circumferentially arranged springs with the inner and outer rims.

'2. A Wheel, comprising inner and'outer rims movable relatively to each other, means for limiting the movement of the inner rim circumferentially relatively to the outer rim, a series of spiral springs flexibly connected together and arranged circumferentially continuously around the inner rim and between it and the outer rim, and a series of radially arranged spiral springs connected to the circumferentially arranged springs and also connected with both the inner and Outer rims.

In testimony whereof, I l1 LV6 l1G16I1I1tO subscribed my name.

. WILLIAM D. SIMPSON. \Vitnesses R. E. CARWILE,

. JAMES A. CATHCART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of. Patents,

' washingtozr, D. O. 

